§ MR. KNOX (Cavan, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland under what statutory power the Irish Land Commission collect and publish statistics purporting to give the prices of agricultural produce in Ireland; whether he would consent to a Return giving the names, salaries, and previous employments of the persons engaged in collecting these figures; and whether, having regard to the fact that the published statistics are considered inaccurate by the whole agricultural community in Ireland, he will consider the desirability of saving the money spent in their compilation?
MR. J. MORLEYThe work of collection of statistics of the prices of agricultural produce in Ireland commenced in the year 1887 in pursuance of Section 29 of the Land Act of that year, but I am not aware of any statutory enactment requiring their publication. When the provisions of that Statute ceased to be operative, the Land Commissioners were authorised to continue the work which is represented by them to be of much benefit to the agricultural community. The Live Weight Statistics of the Dublin Market are supplied by the Corporation and by one of the sale-masters; the Returns as to agricultural produce sold in Dublin and the principal provincial markets are supplied by officers of the Inland Revenue and from actual sale transactions. Information of the actual sales of store stock at the principal fairs is, I understand, supplied to the Laud Commission by specially-qualified persons. The Commissioners inform me that they are not aware of any inaccuracy in the Returns published by the Department, nor do they concur in the view that the statistics are considered inaccurate by the agricultural community. With regard to the second paragraph of the question, I shall be prepared to grant 1472 a Return if the hon. and learned Member will move for it in the usual way.
§ MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.E.)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Irish agricultural community are of opinion that the prices returned by the Commission are over and above those current and obtainable?
§ MR. KNOXUnder what authority do the Commissioners continue to collect and publish these statistics?
MR. J. MORLEYI am afraid I cannot answer these questions further than I have done. The Commissioners were authorised by the Treasury and Government of the day to collect the statistics.